Margaret Ryan awarded Boggabri Senior Citizen of the Year

A very humbled Margaret Ryan was named Boggabri Lions Club Senior Citizen of the Year for 2022.

Mrs Ryan was born in Boggabri and is a valued and respected member of the community who over the years has contributed to many organisations.

Boggabri RSL Club nominated Mrs Ryan who has been a board member for 14 years.

Two of these years she served the board as president and each week she is involved with balancing and banking, buying prizes for bingo, selling raffle tickets and helping with catering for functions at the club.

Mrs Ryan is a dedicated parent to her three children and nursed her sick husband Sonny, for 15 years prior to his death.

Mrs Ryan adores her seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Mrs Ryan has spent many years supporting their children in their interests and sporting activities.

She was a netball referee and committee member for five years, was instrumental in the formation of the Scout group, a kitchen hand at pony club for many years as well a member of Boggabri Public School P and C for 14 years and Boggabri Sacred Heart P and F for seven years.

Many years ago, Mrs Ryan was a founding member of the Blue Light Disco organisation which her children loved attending along with their many friends.

She was a member of the United Hospital Auxiliary for 10 years and prior to COVID-19 helped at the fashion parades.

For the past seven years, Samaritans purse organisation benefits from the packed shoe boxes Mrs Ryan fills for the children for Christmas.

Many single pensioners have received homemade Christmas cake and gifts on Christmas Day, personally delivered by Mrs Ryan.

She has also collected toys and gifts for the Narrabri Shared Table.

Mrs Ryan has delivered Meals on Wheels for 15 years and has been a Home and Community Care transport driver for six years.

Mrs Ryan has been a member of Relay for Life since its inception and more recently the chief driver raising funds for the Pink Angels and McGrath foundation saying, “I said I would be happy if we raised $2000 but to raise in excess of $20,000 is fantastic, just unbelievable.”

Summing up her feelings Mrs Ryan said, “I was born and bred here, I love Boggabri and very proud to live, work and raise my family here.”